Papers Due

Today I collected final drafts of the Lord of the Flies essays, we returned books, and spent the rest of the time on portfolios.
Portfolios are due Tuesday.

Portfolio Day #2

Today students continued working on their final portfolio. By now steps 1 and 2
should be complete and students should be hard at work on the portfolio cover letter. Business letter handouts are available at the handouts page, but students should have them in their binders from the beginning of the year.

The Final Project

Today I collected rough drafts of th Lord of the Flies paper. While I read those over the next two days, students will be working on their final portfolio project, which I assigned in class today. This is due the day of the final.

The Final Essay

Today we did a quick thesis warm-up and I collected the symbol art homework. The rest of the period was devoted to the final paper on Lord of the Flies. Handouts are online.
Due Dates:

• Rough drafts with signed check sheets 6/4
• Final Drafts with attached roughs and check sheets 6/9

Civilization Arrives

Today we began with the end-of-book questions below and then worked on the symbolism project that is due Monday.
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1. What is the symbolic importance of the destruction of the conch? Consider the context for its destruction.
2. How is Piggy’s death like the earlier slaughter of the mother pig?
3. What happens to the “savages” in the presence of the officer? Why?

Academic Fair Madness

Today we had a quiz on the end of the book. ;-)

A Symbolic Day

Today we began the day with a look at the major symbols in Lord of the Flies. We followed that with an examination of the analytical paragraphs students wrote last week. Finally, I assigned the Symbolism Art Project which will utilize both of these things. The handout is available at the handout page, and the project is due Monday, June 2nd.

HW: Finish Flies and be ready for a quiz.

A Philosopher Passes...

Today began with a quiz on chapters 9 & 10, and we spent the rest of the period working on a couple of discussion questions (collected).
HW: Read and take notes on the rest of the book. Expect a quiz on Thursday.
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1. What seems to have been Simon’s symbolic function in the novel? Explain.
2. How do Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric respond to the events at the dance. How does Jack respond? Why do you think their responses are so different?

Students, Meet the Lord of the Flies

Today we annotated a rather dark passage from chapter 8 and then discussed the many mysteries revealed in these two chapters.

HW: Read Chapters 9 & 10 with notes and quotes.

Today we started with some chapter 6 review questions (discussed & collected) and spent the rest of the period finishing maps and revising thematic paragraphs.
HW: Read Chapter 7 & 8 by Friday
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Chapter 6 Questions

1. Of what do Sam and Eric become frightened when they go to build the fire? Explain in detail.
2. How do the others react to the story Sam and Eric tell when they return to the beach?
3. As they head off to explore the island, Simon once again considers the beast. Paraphrase or quote his thoughts.
4. Compare Jack’s reaction to Castle Rock with Ralph’s. Why are their reactions so different?
5. Who leads when they leave Castle Rock? Do you think this is significant?

Practicing Paragraphs

We spent today working on thematic paragraphs centered on quotations from Lord of the Flies. First we looked at and color-coded an example paragraph. Next students used these example paragraphs and quotations from their notes to write their own example paragraphs, which they then color-coded like the example. Most groups finished and handed these paragraphs in.

HW: Read and take notes on chapter 6.

The Island Divides?

Today we began with a short quiz, did some discussion questions, and promptly ran out of time.
Bring colored pencils or highlighters tomorrow if you have them.
HW: Read chapter 6 and take notes (due 5/21)
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Chapter 5 Questions

1. At the beginning of chapter 5, Golding describes Ralph this way: “The wind pressed his grey shirt against his chest so that he noticed—in this new mood of comprehension—how the folds were stiff like cardboard, and unpleasant; noticed too how the frayed edges of his shorts were making an uncomfortable, pink area on the front of his thighs” (69). Explain the symbolic and thematic importance of this description at this point in the story.
   
2. Explain Simon’s theory about the beast and quote the line where he suggests it. Do you agree with him? Why?
   
3. What does Ralph almost do at the end of the chapter? Why does he decide not to?

Chapter 3 and 4 & Island Art

Today we started with a warm up and I checked notes. After discussing and collecting the warm up, we moved on to some discussion questions for chapters 3 and 4. These were discussed and collected. We spent the remainder of 6the period working on the island art assignment.

HW: Read and take notes on chapter 5.

Island Art

Today we had a very brief quiz on chapter 2 and continued with a warm-up focused on theme. After we talked about chapter 2 and the warm-up, I explained the new note expectations and we read silently for awhile. We wrapped up the period working on the Lord of the Flies Map assignment (we will continue this on Thursday).

Warm-ups, note expectations, and the map assignment are available at the handouts page.

HW: Read and take notes on chapters 3 & 4.

Chapter Two

After getting new seats and doing a short warm-up about rules in society, we discussed the notes on chapter one (which I checked by the way).

Reading schedules were handed out.

Read chapter 2 and take notes for HW.

The End of Night

Today we presented Night projects in the first half of the extended period and then spent the second half of the period writing an in-class essay.

Work Time

Today we got a new book, Lord of the Flies, but we will not start it until Thursday night.

We spent the rest of th day working on Night projects. Remember, groups will present projects tomorrow and then will write a final, in class essay on Night.

Work Time

Today, after a brief thematic quotation-based warm up, we spent the rest of the period working on the Night project.

The Final Lit Circle

Today we wrapped up literature circles and started on the final project. Students will have work time in class tomorrow, so bring something to work on!

Presentations are 5/6/08

Welcome Back

We started the day talking a bit about the importance of the STAR test (whether we like it or not). We spent the rest of the day working on lit circles.

Remember to bring something to do after the STAR test tomorrow!